Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens

This weekend saw some incredible rugby sevens matches and I was very excited to see the Irish women's team making the quarter finals.

In all 16 countries played in the women's tournament which was held in Moscow, Russia. Yes, you read that right - Russia is stepping into the rugby world. Slowly, slowly the game is growing.

New Zealand ran out winners of both women's and men's! Huge achievement and really laying down a marker for the Rio2016 Games.

This was the first time Ireland sent a women's team so beating South Africa and China to get to the finals with pool winners Australia was great. I'm sure the team were gutted not to go further but still - exciting times ahead clearly.

And for once we didn't have a men's team. It's beginning to look like the women are taking all the Sevens focus in Ireland - no complaints here. The only issue we're looking at is a shortage of players.

Eight of the Seven's panel also play the full 15s games - what will happen when matches start to clash and the timetable builds up as Rio gets closer?

And I also got a story into the newspaper where I work - a rare chance to mix women's sport with getting paid to write.